having a b-ing time with speedo cable

[ilikepoultry]

those stupid little paper-clip clips
i hate them
anyone know any tricks to getting them to connect easily?
can i put the clips in then push the cable thru?
or do i sit there, cussing at the car, then ht the quarter-panel, cracking the paint and leaving a nasty dent, only to get nowhere?

any good ideas appreciated :thankyou:

 

[ilikepoultry]

i've now ruined 7 clips attempting to get ONE in
is there any way i can do this WITHOUT effing them up?
or am i stuck repeatedly ruining the clips?

 

[Off Road SHO]

Put the clip in first, then push the cable through it. I hate those clips also.

Tom

 

[ilikepoultry]

thank you times infinity plus one

 

[ilikepoultry]

argh it didn't work
my dad's going to try tomorrow because he thinks he's better than me
so on saturday it'll be getting done by a dealership i think

 

[jthod]

Use bailing wire, put the cable in, then route the wire through making sure the wire holds on the sides of the cable end and on the lip that the clip would normally rest on. If I remember right, I had about a 3" piece bent in a narrow u-shape, stuck it through the side with the two holes, and twisted it around to tighten it. I did that about 7,500 miles about without a problem. I decided to do this right after I spent an hour trying to get the original out, and ended up breaking it in the process. You might give it a try. May sound redneck-ish, but if it works, why not, you don't have to look at it anyway!
Good luck either way!

 

[Off Road SHO]

I had the hardest time with those clips also. The solution if I remember right was: with the clip installed, push the clip from the rounded side so that the two ends are sticking out the other side slightly. Then insert the cable through the clip. I believe with the clip ends sticking out, it allows the clip to expand when the rounded end of the cable is pushed against it. I still hate those clips though. Good luck.

Tom

 

[93rev2sev]

to think....

They made those clips so that assembly would be faster...

I hate em too. I think Tom has the right "method".

 

[SHOtime3]

I thought I was the only one with this problem. Do you guys get your extra clips from an auto store?

 

[93rev2sev]

I (knock on wood) have never needed a replacement clip.

 

[92inPA]

I've never had much trouble with those clips. Guess I've been lucky so far.

 

[SHOZ123]

I second the bailing wire, er safety wire. All I ever used.

 

[Storm-Chaser]

The clip is designed so it never has to be removed from the speedometer cable housing. You simply spread the clip and then give a good tug on the upper speedometer cable to pull the cable out.

If you inadvertently tried (or succeeded) in pulling the clip before removing the cable, then the clip is likely bent such that it won't hold the cable in when replaced, or you may have damaged the portion of the speedometer cable housing that the clip slides through.

When looking at the speedometer cable housing, the two sides where the clip slides through are different - one side has a single elongated slot, the other two smaller slots. Look at how the other clip in the lower speedometer cable housing is installed, and install the upper clip the same way. After the clip is installed in the speedometer cable housing, spread the clip and then insert the cable.

If done properly, they really do work as advertised . . . .